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At a January 24 press conference in Lansing, Michigan Democrats and the bosses of Michigan’s big labor unions demanded an enormous increase in Michigan’s minimum wage. To their dissatisfaction, MRA crashed the party and was the only food and beverage service organization present to monitor the conference and speak with the assembled media afterward.

The Michigan Democrats and the union bosses proposed the following:

• Increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 by January 1, 2007 – a 39 percent hike!
• Increase the tipped wage from $2.65 to $4.60 by January 1, 2007 – a 74 percent hike!
• Thereafter, index both wages annually to inflation

TAKE ACTION AND TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS HOW THIS WILL AFFECT YOU!

Here is what you can do to help defeat these harmful proposals:

1. Call or write both your state representative and senator via mail, fax, email or phone, and ask them to oppose this irresponsible increase in the minimum wage.
   • If you write a letter or send a fax, remember to use your letterhead
   • If you do not know who your state representative or senator is, or how you can contact them, visit www.house.mi.gov and www.senate.michigan.gov

2. Tell them how the proposal as detailed above will impact your business.

3. Emphasize the following points:

·      The state’s economy is already stagnant, we’ve already got the second highest unemployment rate in the country at 7.3 percent, and Michigan is already a very expensive and burdensome state in which to operate a business. This proposal seeks to solve the problem by making things worse!

·      No employee in this state makes less than $5.15 per hour. No employee ever makes less than $5.15!

·      Raising the minimum wage above that of the federal government and our neighboring states will only continue to make Michigan less competitive and our economy worse

·      The Michigan hourly tipped wage is already 24 percent higher than the federal wage of $2.13. This proposal increases our state minimum wage 39 percent and the tipped wage 74 percent! This is simply unacceptable and irresponsible!

4. Be sure to send a copy of your message to us at the MRA if you send letters, emails, or faxes: 225 W. Washtenaw, Lansing, MI 48933

fax 517/482-7663

adeloney@mramail.org

With your help, MRA will defeat this proposal. Thanks, as always, for your continued support.